Arkansas Sportsbooks + Legal Sports Betting Sites

Arkansas is not exactly known as an epicenter of gambling – certainly not on the level of Nevada or New Jersey, or even Iowa or Pennsylvania – so it should come as no surprise that the state offers few opportunities for Arkansas sports betting. Indeed, accepting sports bets in Arkansas was, until very recently, illegal under state law. However, that changed back in 2018, when the voters approved Issue 4, a measure to legalize sports wagering. (This referendum also allows the state to regulate and issue licenses to casinos that wish to operate within AR borders.)

Because the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, PASPA, has been overturned by the US Supreme Court, every state in the US is empowered to set up and regulate its own local sports wagering industry, and that’s exactly what is happening in Arkansas. In the near future, the state will have fully-fledged single-game (i.e. “Vegas-style”) sports betting available at both of its racino venues, Southland Gaming & Racing (West Memphis, AR) and Oaklawn Racing & Gaming (Hot Springs, AR).

This page is designed as an educational resource for Arkansas gamblers, and as such, it covers such topics as Arkansas’ gambling laws, its specific stance on sports wagers, and, perhaps most crucially, the various avenues that Arkansas gamers have available to them as they seek to bet on sports. Of particular note are the licensed and above-board online sportsbooks reviewed herein, which AR residents can trust completely to provide them with safe, legal sports betting options.

Is it Legal to Bet on Sports in Arkansas?

Yes! It is legal to bet on sports in Arkansas, as voters approved Issue 4 in November 2018, authorizing the state to regulate sports wagering and casino venues. Until just recently, AR was viewed as more or less antagonistic towards gambling in general, but the times have certainly changed.

That said, your options will be limited at first, as Arkansas has no provision for domestic online sports wagering. As such, you will have to wager on-site at one of the state’s two racino-style venues. Southland Park Gaming & Racing in West Memphis and Oaklawn Racing & Gaming in Hot Springs are the two pilot locales for sports wagering in AR, though voters did approve the construction of two casinos near Little Rock (locations and opening dates TBA). Both of the above track venues have already had their gaming applications approved for sports betting. Of course, AR is a big state, and not every bettor is going to be able to get to these two venues just whenever they want to place a wager or two. For that, fortunately, there are other options for Arkansas sports bettors.

Indeed, opportunities for Arkansas residents to bet on sporting events are abundant. The thing you have to do is to find licensed, reputable bookmakers who operate offshore, beyond the purview of US law. Placing bets with these bookies is safe for residents of Arkansas, which is why so many Arkansas gaming enthusiasts get what they need through the Internet.

Perhaps now we might get to the down-and-dirty question of legal penalties for sports betting online at offshore books. Will Arkansas residents get into trouble for placing bets online? The answer is no, they will not, assuming they are smart enough to place bets through reliable, licensed offshore bookmakers! (Again, placing wagers with street-level Arkansas bookies is where trouble will come, so you want to avoid that at all costs.)

You see, most laws that target sports betting really target unlicensed bookmakers. As such, there is no real legal liability for Arkansas players who simply wish to place bets. As long as you’re not an unlicensed bookie operating on AR soil, you are free to wager on whatever you want via offshore sports betting sites. No, you probably won’t get into any actual legal trouble by using a local black-market bookie, but in the interest of avoiding any semblance of legal trouble or inconvenience (as well as in the interest of simply not getting ripped off by unscrupulous hucksters), the recommended avenue is to place bets through legitimate, offshore gambling sites.

Where Can Arkansas Residents Bet Sports Online?

This leads us to the important question of where, exactly, Arkansas natives can place online bets on their favorite sporting events. While online sports wagering will be available from in-state vendors, there won’t be too many books to choose from if you go this route, and you’ll likely have to pay inflated house takes on most of your wagers. This is just a natural consequence of local sportsbooks, particularly in areas that have local teams with large fanbases. If you want a bit more variety – and if you don’t want to overspend on your wagers week in and week out, you fortunately have several good alternative options.

The rule of thumb here is to seek out a licensed offshore sportsbook, and definitely not to go through illegitimate, street-level bookmakers. Rest assured that there are numerous online sportsbooks that are not only reputable and fully-licensed, but that are also eager to accept the bets of Arkansas residents. We have done the research for you and found the best online sportsbooks for the needs of Arkansas gamers. Read on to find your new favorite AR sports betting site!

Bovada accepts residents of Arkansas, and more than 100,000 AR residents call the website home for all their sports betting needs. Bovada is considered to be the #1 sportsbook in the state, and it’s also regarded as the top online sports betting site in America. As such, it’s no surprise that its Arkansas fandom rivals that of the state’s beloved Razorbacks.

If you want to bet on University of Arkansas football – or any other player or team from any other club in the US or even overseas – you can do so with no problems at Bovada. The book supports action on US leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, UFC, and more, and you can even bet on international fare like league rugby, soccer, cricket, tennis, golf, and lots of other sports.

New Arkansas members who sign up for Bovada today can take advantage of the best welcome bonus in betting, Bovada’s 50% deposit match worth up $250 in free-plays. With only a 5X rollover (the lowest on the Internet), it’s easy for beginners and old salts alike to meet the terms and pad their bankrolls. It’s such a popular bonus offer that you don’t even need a promo code to claim it – just click the appropriate box when joining, and that’s all there is to it.

BetOnline is one of the most popular sports betting sites in Arkansas, and it’s got the best Bitcoin bonus for Razorback fans. When you sign up and make your first deposit via the popular cryptocurrency (or via Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, or DASH), you can get up to $1000 in free-plays to boost your bankroll to high roller status. Just use promo code “CRYPTO100” to accept the offer, and get to betting.

BetOnline has been taking AR sports bets for an entire generation, and it’s withstood the test of time by focusing on value, fair play, and unwavering customer service. Payouts are always timely and guaranteed, and BetOnline gives its members the most deposit and withdrawal options of any major sports betting site.

BetOnline isn’t just for sports betting, either. If you live in AR and want to play real-money casino games or poker, BetOnline has you covered. They also have a pari-mutuel racebook where you can bet on the ponies every day, from tracks all around the US and the world!

5Dimes Sportsbook – Alternate Lines On Arkansas Football + Reduced Juice
5Dimes is the best Arkansas sportsbook for those looking for alternate lines on college and NFL football. Some sportsbooks will let you “buy points” to change the terms of the various spread and total bets on offer, but 5Dimes dispenses with the customization and just publishes all possible spreads and moneylines for every game. This saves you time and aggravation when shopping lines on Saturday morning. Don’t like the -7.5 spread when the Razorbacks play Ole Miss? Then head over to 5Dimes and put your money on the -4.5 line they’ve got, and you’re good to go!

When residents of Arkansas first sign up with 5Dimes, they are immediately eligible for up to $520 in free-plays, and every new member is automatically enrolled in 5Dimes’ exclusive Reduced Juice program, which reduces the house take on all spreads and totals. Why take -115 odds when you can get -105 odds instead?

Bookmaker.eu Sportsbook – High Roller Arkansas Bettors Welcome + CASH Bonus!
BookMaker is perhaps the oldest sportsbook in operation, as it was one of the first out of the gate back when the Internet was just a strapping young lad. In the decades since, BookMaker has been serving AR sports bettors, catering to all different types of players. However, where BookMaker really shines is in its status as the high roller’s sportsbook. No book offers higher deposit limits or wager limits than BookMaker, and bigtime Arkansas bettors can take advantage of that. If you have $10,000 to drop on the Arkansas Razorbacks, for example, this is the site to place that bet.

Arkansas residents who sign up with BookMaker can also get one of the few remaining cash bonuses on the Internet. While most books have gone away from the versatile cash bonus and replaced it with slightly more restricted free-play promos, that’s not the case at BookMaker. When you make your first deposit, you can have the amount you put in matched at 15%, in CASH!

MyBookie is a newie but a goodie when it comes to online, offshore sportsbooks that accept Arkansas residents. Because MyBookie specializes in US sports leagues specifically, the NCAA is high on their list of odds offered. That means that you’ll find practically every Razorbacks football matchup, as well as games from the always-popular NFL, the MLB, the NBA, the NHL, and various combat sports matchups (boxing, UFC action, etc.). If you’re shopping lines, you’ll definitely want to take a moment to check out all the available odds at MyBookie, as they’re usually a bit different than those you’ll find elsewhere.

New Arkansas customers who join MyBookie today can get a 50% deposit match worth up to $1000 in free plays (promo code: “MYB50”), and you can also claim a $20 risk-free bet for your very first wager at the site. For dedicated NCAA bettors and Razorbacks fans, there’s no better sportsbook for Arkansas action than MyBookie.

Arkansas sports betting laws can be found under Title 5, Subtitle 6, Chapter 66 of the Arkansas Code, which you can find here or from the state’s official legislative portal here . This section (§5-66-101 et seq.) very clearly outlines gambling as the risking of any money or property on a game of chance. This is prohibited in the state of Arkansas. However, the language of the law makes it clear that the offending party in such a transaction is the bookmaker, not the bettor. And with recent changes to the law, the entire section is subject to amendment. For example, §5-66-114 still forbids gambling on sports, though this is now legal, and the state will update its law repositories to reflect that in due time.

It is also important to reiterate that Arkansas law does not allow for domestically legal online sports betting at this time. So where can you find an Arkansas sportsbook that is actually able to legally take your bets?

The answer is simple: at online, offshore sportsbooks. These sites provide Arkansas residents with a viable and safe sports betting opportunity. They are regulated and licensed by the gaming commissions in their own countries, making them incredibly safe to use. This is also a part of what makes them legal for Arkansas residents. They’re not regulated in any way by the US government or the government of Arkansas, they don’t violate federal or state laws, and they aren’t based in Arkansas or the US, so no American jurisdiction is in charge of their activities. It’s a win-win. So long as you are using a sportsbook that is not based in the US, you are able to bet on sports to your heart’s content.

There is a natural conclusion to reach here: Since the state of Arkansas does not acknowledge online sportsbooks in its legal documents, this means that it also does not regulate or monitor them in any way. For some Arkansas gamblers, this may come as unwelcome news, and it may even make some players feel unsafe in placing online wagers.

Again, though, online sportsbooks are safe if they are reputable, licensed, offshore betting sites — and all of the ones mentioned on this page more than fit that description. As such, Arkansas players can feel perfectly secure in placing wagers on the sites we have reviewed above.

Current State Of Online Sports Betting In Arkansas

At the end of the day, then, we must return to our initial contention—that while sports betting is formally legal in the state of Arkansas, domestic online wagering is still not yet allowed. This will certainly change in time, but for now, Arkansas has only legalized land-based sports betting at two in-state venues.

Nevertheless, there are some safe options for the state’s players to wager online. That means that those looking to have some money riding on the Razorbacks or the Red Wolves (but likely not the Sugar Bears) can find options at any of the legitimate sportsbooks listed on this page. Again, the key consideration for Arkansas players is to seek out sportsbooks that are licensed, reputable, and transparent — and not to take risks on local, street-level bookies!

Legal Arkansas Sports Betting FAQs

1.) Will Online Sportsbooks In Arkansas Allow Me To Bet On The Razorbacks?

Absolutely. Even though athletic directors from all over the state have tried to petition to not allow residents to bet on their games, online offshore sportsbooks do not have to adhere to those rules. You’ll be able to bet on any one of their sporting events that have odds set for them online.

2.) What Is The Legal Age To Bet On Sports In Arkansas?

When sports betting was passed by voters, the legal age was set at 21 and up. Online offshore sports betting sites will accept members as young as 18 years old, however, it is always recommended that you stick with the age limit set by the state. It is the only way to ensure that that you have a safe experience using these sportsbooks.

3.) Are These Online Sportsbooks Regulated By The Arkansas Government?

The ones we recommend are not regulated by the Arkansas government, rather, they are regulated by the gaming commissions of their home countries. Because they are regulated by those government agencies they are held to a high standard and are held accountable for all of their transactions for players, even if those players live in Arkansas.

4.) Will Arkansas Land-Based Sportsbooks Be Better Than Online Ones?

It all depends on what you look for in a USA online sportsbook. If you prefer to be able to place wagers in person and then watch multiple games across multiple TVs, then your land-based options may appeal to you more. But Arkansas only approved four gaming facilities in the entire state to be able to host sportsbooks (two of which haven’t even been built yet), so if you’re not able to drive to one of them, you will be out of luck. With online sportsbooks, you will be able to place your bets wherever you have an Internet connection. You’ll also have more payment options and wagering types available to you than you will find at any of the land-based sportsbooks in Arkansas.

5.) Do Online Sportsbooks Offer Live Betting In Arkansas?

Yes, and having this feature makes it the best way to maximize profits from any Razorback game you might be watching. This is because even though most bets are placed before an event begins, live betting allows you to keep betting on the game even after the initial kick-off. You can bet on most aspects of any game when live wagering, as the odds are always in flux to represent the pace and flow of the contest. Live betting has quickly become the most sought-after feature of any Arkansas sportsbook, and all the best offshore sites offer the pastime. You can even enjoy live betting via your iPhone or Android smartphone!